-
The current status of passenger rail in Southern California:
Commentary by Paul Dyson, RailPAC President Overcrowded Trains? No New Cars Available? Time to Use our Brains! Here are a few statements that I believe reflect the current status of passenger rail in Southern California: Demand is outstripping currently scheduled supply on most days. While scarce Amtrak (Surfliner) equipment operates up to 18 hours a…
-
RailPAC Saturday Roundtable Scheduled
Los Angeles Union Station Join RailPAC President Paul Dyson, VP South James Smith, and others for an informal discussion of current issues relating to passenger rail! Look for us in the main waiting room, between the newsstand and the bagel shop.
-
Are the Airlines Now Like the Railroads Were 50 Years Ago?
Editorial By Noel T. Braymer The truth is the Airline Industry has never been profitable. While some airlines have made money some years, as a whole the industry loses money more often than it makes money. The recent spike in fuel costs has placed the Airline Industry into a tailspin. Several airlines have or are…
-
RailPAC writes Caltrans re new Amtrak California Timetable
30th June, 2008 Mr. William Kempton Director, California Department of Transportation P.O. Box 942873, Sacramento, CA 94273-0001 AMTRAK CALIFORNIA TIMETABLE Dear Mr. Kempton: RailPAC’s Board met on Wednesday 25th of this month and directed me to write to you to express our deep disappointment with the new Amtrak California timetable. While we can all have…
-
Coast Starlight at SLO; Before and After PHOTOS
Before the re-launch After the re-launch But, what’s NOT there? Photos and Comments by Russ Jackson Coast Starlight train 14, the northbound, arrived on the station track usually used by the southbound #11 at San Luis Obispo, close to on time, on May 18, 2008. This crowd of passengers for the Starlight were riding the…
-
Coast Rail Coordinating Council June Meeting Report
COAST RAIL COORDINATING COUNCIL POLICY COMMITTEE – Meeting, June 20, 2008 Santa Barbara Reported by Paul Dyson, RailPAC President The meeting was well attended. Clem Bomar, Division of Rail, Pete Rodgers and Tim Gillham, SLOCOG, Mike Powers SBCAG, Rob Dayton, (staff) and Council members Helene Schneider and Roger Horton of RailPAC member city Santa Barbara,…
-
Capitol Corridor JPB June Meeting Report
Reported by Bruce Jenkins, RailPAC Director The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Board met in Suisun City Hall on June 18, 2008. The Board approved the “Interregional Improvement Program” consisting of four projects, e.g. Yolo Causeway west crossover, CP Coast-Great America double tracking (Santa Clara), Capitalized maintenance, and Hercules Station, to be funded from the 2008…
-
Coast Starlight Re-launch PHOTOS
Return of the drumhead to a passenger train! Photo report by Dennis Lytton The Coast Starlight relaunch ceremony took place at Los Angeles Union Station on June 10, 2008. The band played on the patio. Photographer Lytton (left) and NARP President George Chilson pose beside a rebuilt Pacific Parlour Car. Speaker is joined by Amtrak’s…
-
LOSSAN TAC June MEETING Report
06/17/08 Report by Paul Dyson REPORT: LOSSAN TAC MEETING, LOS ANGELES, 06/17/08 Key items: Surfliner Revenue up 16.3% in March over previous year, but down 13.1% in April, all attributed to an early Easter this year. Overall growth still about 3%, which is very poor given the demographics of the region. OTP Is averaging between…
-
TAMC Rail Policy Committee meeting
Transportation Agency for Monterey County Rail Policy Committee Meeting Report for June 2, 2008 By Chris Flescher, RailPAC Associate Director TAMC is still studying alternatives for the Monterey Branch Line There are three being considered. 1. Enhanced bus service. This has a capital cost estimate of $46 million. 2. New combination of bus rapid transit…